Chapter 24 24
By the time she reached Brooks Estate, her palms were damp from how tightly she held the tray.
The guard recognized her immediately.
“You’re here for Mr. Brooks?” he asked, already opening the smaller side gate.
“Yes… quickly, please,” she whispered, trying to smile. Her voice was shaky.
She slipped inside and started walking fast — almost jogging — her small frame moving quickly up the long driveway.
She shifted the tray and pushed the door open. A maid looked up sharply.
“You’re late,” the maid said, eyeing the coffee like it was a ticking bomb.
“I know, I’m— I’m sorry,” Blair breathed. “Where is he?”
“In the study. And be careful,” the maid added in a low voice. “He’s… not in a good mood tonight.”
Blair bit her lip. Not in a good mood. Great. Just great.
Blair pushed the study door open with her elbow, her breath already shaky.
Lucas was sitting behind his desk, glasses on… and of course, shirtless again.
Just her luck.
Her eyes shot straight to the floor.
“S-sir… your coffee,” she whispered, placing the tray down carefully, hoping her hands didn’t look as shaky as they felt.
He didn’t answer.
Just stared at her over the top of his glasses.
Blair swallowed hard.
“I… I wanted to apologize for— for yesterday. I didn’t mean to— I wasn’t trying to—”
Her voice broke into nervous stammers.
She hated how she sounded.
She took one tiny step back, already trying to escape, but Lucas suddenly stood up.
Before she could react, his hand closed around her wrist and pulled her closer.
Blair’s breath caught.
She kept her gaze fixed on his collarbone — anywhere but his eyes — because she knew looking up would only make everything worse.
Lucas leaned in slightly, his voice low and sharp.
“Why are you stuttering?” he said. “Guilty of something?”
She shook her head quickly, her lips trembling. “N-no… I just… I just wanted to be respectful, sir—”
“Respectful?” he scoffed. “That’s funny, considering how you’ve been all over headlines today.”
Her chest tightened.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she whispered.
He let out a cold laugh.
“Of course you didn’t,” he said sarcastically. “Coffee girl just magically trips into CEOs and goes viral.”
His grip loosened but he didn’t let go.
Blair tried not to look at him.
“I’m sorry,” she said again, voice barely there. “I really am.”
Lucas tilted his head slightly, studying her like she was something inconvenient he had to deal with.
“You should be,” he said quietly. “Apologies don’t clean up messes. Actions do.”
Blair nodded, eyes burning.
Blair finally pulled her wrist back, her heart racing.
She just needed to get out.
Out of this room, out of his space, out of his eyes.
She stepped away too fast.
.
Her shoe caught the edge of the rug.
“Ah—!”
She pitched forward.
Before she could hit the ground, strong hands grabbed her — one around her waist, the other at her back.
Her breath froze.
Lucas pulled her upright against his chest, steadying her from behind.
His fingers brushed the lower part of her back—
—right where her tattoo was.
He jerked like he’d touched fire.
Blair felt his hands freeze… then suddenly release her like she burned him too.
Lucas staggered back a step, grabbing his head with one hand.
“I—I’m sorry,” he muttered, voice rough. He wasn’t even looking at her, his chest rising fast. “I didn’t mean to—”
Blair turned slowly, her face hot, her breathing shaky.
The air between them felt strange….
She pressed her palm to her chest.
“I-it’s okay,” she whispered, even though nothing felt okay at all.
Lucas dragged his hand down his face, refusing to meet her eyes.
“I don’t… I don’t touch people like that,” he said quietly, almost to himself.
Blair could only stare at him — confused, shaken, and suddenly terrified he recognized something he wasn’t supposed to.
He took another step back.
“You can go,” he said, voice uneven. “Just… go.”
Blair didn’t trust her voice, so she just nodded… and hurried out, clutching the door handle like she needed it to stay standing.
Behind her, Lucas exhaled shakily… like he had just seen a ghost.
Blair opened the door and stepped out quickly, trying to get her breathing under control. Her hands were still slightly shaking from what just happened
She took one step into the hallway—
—and froze.
Olivia was standing right there.
Her gaze slid over Blair from head to toe.
Her eyes paused on Blair’s messy bun, her flushed cheeks, the faint wrinkle in her dress from where Lucas had grabbed her.
Olivia’s heels snapped softly as she brushed past her and entered the study.
She didn’t look back.
⸻
Olivia stepped into the study, closing the door behind her.
Lucas didn’t turn immediately — he was bent over his desk, the small wooden box in his hands.
The box.
The one he never let anyone touch.
The one he never opened unless he was alone.
She took one step in, and he instantly stiffened.
Lucas exhaled sharply and snapped the lid shut, sliding the box into the drawer like he’d been caught doing something illegal.
“Liv,” he muttered, straightening up, his jaw tight. “You should knock.”
“I did,” she said with a bright, fake smile. “You didn’t answer.”
He didn’t respond.
He just moved past her and reached for his shirt on the chair like he wanted to cover up everything — his chest, his thoughts, that box.
Olivia’s eyes narrowed.
She wasn’t stupid.
She’d seen the way he moved… like he was hiding something fragile.
She walked closer.
“So,” she started casually, crossing her arms, “why does that barista keep coming here?”
Lucas froze for half a second before continuing to button his shirt.
“She brought coffee,” he said flatly.
Olivia laughed once — sharp and jealous. “She brings coffee every time. At the office. At the house. At night. Convenient, isn’t it?”
Lucas’s jaw twitched. “Liv, don’t start.”
“Start what?” she asked, stepping in front of him. “I’m asking a simple question. Why is she always around you?”
“She’s staff,” he said, voice firm. “That’s all.”
Olivia’s eyes scanned his face, searching for cracks.
His expression was stone cold… but something behind it felt shaken.
And she hated that.
“She didn’t look like just staff when she walked past me,” Olivia added quietly. “Her face was red. Her dress was wrinkled. And you—”
She pointed at his hands, still slightly trembling from the earlier moment.
“—you look guilty.”
Lucas exhaled hard. “Liv. Go home.”
Her lips tightened. “You’re pushing me away.”
He didn’t answer.
Olivia stepped closer, voice dropping to a sad, manipulative whisper.
“I’m losing you to a coffee girl. A girl who shouldn’t even be near you.”
Lucas’s face hardened.
“That’s enough,” he said quietly.